Bobby Jindal is seen by many in his party as the Next Big Thing, a political comer who at 37 offers competence, reform and a fresh face for a Republican Party in dire need of all three.

But even as he basks in the media glow from his maiden foray to Iowa last month, Jindal is far from a sure thing in 2012.

Jindal, only elected governor last year, said flatly this month hes not interested in being president and is only focused on a 2011 reelection bid  perhaps not surprising at a time when few will admit to White House ambitions.

Still, there are indications, from Jindal and close advisers, that he truly is reserving judgment about taking on President-elect Barack Obama in four years.

According to Politico, it seems that Jindal is quickly becoming the conservative choice of the GOP "elite". From the article:

And unlike Sarah Palin, Jindal is also quickly becoming the toast of Republican elites, the class of elected officials, donors, and consultants who are much sought after well before the first primary votes are cast.

Perhaps this is just wishful thinking on the part of Politico and the MSM. At any rate, the grassroots may have different ideas in a couple of years. We'll see.

Looks like Politico is trying to run Sarah outta town. I like Bobby Jindal but he is not Presidential material right now, he would make a great Running Mate for Sarah. Why does Politico give a damn about who the GOP picks as their nominee. They are in the tank for the Democratic party. I say whoever Politico picks we pick the opposite

Well, in 16 years he will have been out of office as Governor for 9 years (unless he’s in the Senate by then). Someone 9 years out of office running for President is yesterday’s news, there will be many others of higher-profile holding office in 2024.

6
posted on 12/25/2008 6:05:47 PM PST
by fieldmarshaldj
(~"This is what happens when you find a stranger in the Alps !"~~)

I concur that Palin/Jindal 2012 would be a solid ticket. But if Jindal insists on running for Gov. 2011 again and serving his tenure, he'll be definately in play for 2016 (unless we come to enjoy a second Palin term. :o))

He was definately born in the USA and is thus natural born. There has been some speculation here that the fact that both his parents were Indian citizens, could cause controversy ala Obama’s BC. (Except that Jindal has nothing to hide and the press won’t be covering him.)

Well, IMO being the “toast of Republican elites” is not a resume enhancer to genuine conservatives. Just the opposite.

Second, AFAIAC, I want to see a substantial, proven track record of conservative ideas and actions. This BS of everyone going orgasmic over a new face, for no other reason than it’s a new face, is STUPID. We criticize Dems for doing just that.

How many times must people get buyer’s remorse before they start thinking less impulsively?

Man does Sarah Palin got these liberal media and beltway clowns in a snitz. She totally has their freaking number. Otherwise Politico wouldn’t be wasting their time on this crap. This simply tells me that Obama and the Dems are going to overreach and the GOP will become energized with a group of new conservatives. Can’t wait for Palin’s CPAC speech, hopefully it’ll be on par with Reagan’s Time for Choosing.

Reagan gave a couple of memorable speeches at CPAC after Republican defeats in '74 and '76. "A Time For Choosing", however was his speech at the Goldwater convention in '64 that rocketed him to the national political scene.

His '75 speech at CPAC "Let Them Go Their Way" has parallels to today's situation with the GOP.

Exactly, this shows me that Sarah has these liberals so damn scared that these leftist sites are resorting to bringing out other GOP governors to try to take the attention away from Sarah. WOW I haven’t seen this much fear from the left since Reagan, perhaps that is an omen. I am excited to hear what Sarah has to say at CPAC. I called last week and confirmed that she will be there

A couple of interesting snips from "Let Them Go Their Way", given at CPAC in 1975:

Americans are hungry to feel once again a sense of mission and greatness.

I don 't know about you, but I am impatient with those Republicans who after the last election rushed into print saying, "We must broaden the base of our party" -- when what they meant was to fuzz up and blur even more the differences between ourselves and our opponents.

It was a feeling that there was not a sufficient difference now between the parties that kept a majority of the voters away from the polls. When have we ever advocated a closed-door policy? Who has ever been barred from participating?

Our people look for a cause to believe in. Is it a third party we need, or is it a new and revitalized second party, raising a banner of no pale pastels, but bold colors which make it unmistakably clear where we stand on all of the issues troubling the people?

Let us show that we stand for fiscal integrity and sound money and above all for an end to deficit spending, with ultimate retirement of the national debt.

[SNIP]

Let our banner proclaim our belief in a free market as the greatest provider for the people. Let us also call for an end to the nit-picking, the harassment and over-regulation of business and industry which restricts expansion and our ability to compete in world markets.

[SNIP]

A political party cannot be all things to all people. It must represent certain fundamental beliefs which must not be compromised to political expediency, or simply to swell its numbers.

I do not believe I have proposed anything that is contrary to what has been considered Republican principle. It is at the same time the very basis of conservatism. It is time to reassert that principle and raise it to full view. And if there are those who cannot subscribe to these principles, then let them go their way.

Jindal hasn’t ruled out running in 2040, either. He’d still be younger than McCain was this year.

Who runs in 2012 will depened on how vulnerable Obama is. If it looks like he’ll win easily and he has good poll #s, the economy has improved, etc..., it’ll be Romney vs Huckabee for the sacrificial lamb role.

If Obama pulls a Carter and things go south, you’ll see a whole bunch of folks jump in

Financial wizards did not necessarily get us into this mess but their responses to it have taken a little problem and magnified it into a probable depression. Finance men are NOT economists and are totally short-sighted in comparison. Finance men know how to direct streams of income, how to fund large projects. They do not know and do not care about the economy in large. Finance men are about immediate gain and in a crunch they tend to aim all their efforts at securing their own positions at the expense of all others. A certain portion of that 700 billion bailout is surely being converted into gold and other inflation resistant forms in such places as Cayman Islands. And their first concerns were the financial health of Goldman Sachs people, the folks who have stocked the government financial and economics slots for the last three administrations.

Who runs in 2012 will depened on how vulnerable Obama is. If it looks like hell win easily and he has good poll #s, the economy has improved, etc..., itll be Romney vs Huckabee for the sacrificial lamb role. If Obama pulls a Carter and things go south, youll see a whole bunch of folks jump in.

You are a wise reader of tea leaves. Better than most on this forum.

44
posted on 12/25/2008 7:22:58 PM PST
by ajay_kumar
(Wake me up when the NON-Natural Citizen is out of office.)

I have a hard time believing Jindal is truly the choice of the Republican establishment elites. Like Palin, he’s probably too offbeat/populist/grassroots for their starchy tastes. More likely, his name is just being touted around in yet another attempt to downplay Palin’s popularity. I do like Jindal quite a lot, though.

Speaking of which, I was just pondering something. If Palin doesn’t run in 2012 (and I’m hoping she does), can you imagine the intense value of her ‘endorsement?’ Usually endorsements are of only marginal value, but I imagine hers would really resonate. Crazy that the Republican establishment types continue dumping on her. They might very well come to regret it.

It has to do with plain old common sense, Dammit! An urban environment is an artificial construct, an alternate reality, that can only survive with constant support. Natural law will win out, every time, in the long run, over the Harvard/Yale dumbasses!

47
posted on 12/25/2008 7:37:29 PM PST
by SWAMPSNIPER
(THE SECOND AMENDMENT, A MATTER OF FACT, NOT A MATTER OF OPINION)

The GOP knows it messed up with McCain. Romney would have beaten him if Huckabee hadn’t siphoned conservative votes away from Romney. Romney would have beaten Huckabee too if it was a two-man race. Next time it will be. Jindal will be Romney’s running mate.

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